I shared on my instagram, seating cards that I was making for my Modern Calligraphy dip pen workshop. Some of you wanted more information about how to make them so I went live on Instagram and showed how I letter the seating cards using a dip pen and a simple painting brush.

The end result is really beautiful and the steps are actually super simple! I thought I’d demystify the process of making seating cards so that you can try your hand at making them for your next gathering, special event or meeting!

How to make seating cards

To make seating cards, you will need to start with gathering your supplies;

1. Card stock in color of your choice. I used black, antique pink and a soft pink.

2. Pen of choice. I show my top 3 pens of choice; the dip pen, waterbrush and small felt brush pen.

3. Ink if using a dip pen or waterbrush.

4. Paper cutter (really makes life easier and cut lines straighter).

5. Folding/scoring board (not necessary but easy to score your cards and create a clean fold line.

6. Some calligraphy/lettering skill.

To begin, decide which color paper you’d like to use as well as what color ink will compliment it. For the black card stock, I chose to go with a white arylic ink that I knew would be opaque enough and would sit on top of the paper rather than be absorbed by the cottony surface of the paper. For the pink tone card stock, I used a muted mauve water color paint that I customized, and chose to use straight up black [using my felt pen].

Step 1

Letter sized paper measures 8.5 by 11 inches. You can cut four seating cards from one sheet of letter size card stock. Your first cut will be on the long side of the paper, using your paper slicer, measure your paper so that your first cut is 5.5 inches. Then you will cut the two smaller cards in half again measuring from the longest side (8.5 inches) and cut to 4.25 inches. Now you should have 4 identical sized cards.

Step 2

Score your cards along the centre of the longest side of your card. The centre line should measure at 2.75 inches. If you do not have a scoring board like the image above, simple use a ruler and a dull object. A paper bone would be perfect, however, a butter knife will work easily to create a crease for you to follow when you are folding.

Step 3

Choose a pen/brush that you’d like to use for your lettering, determine if you’d like a bouncy, modern calligraphy style or a bold, brush lettering style. I didn’t draw any lines or use guides, I like to just go-for-it. Sometimes I mess up when I’m lettering and that’s ok!! I believe anything that is done by hand has more personality when it’s imperfect. Imperfections just makes it feel more authentic and hand made. But if you need to draw out the name first, do so lightly with pencil! Otherwise, just go for it and start lettering names.

Here are a few examples of what I created.

watch this video below of how you can create your own place cards and the lettering you can create with each of my favorite pens!

If you have any questions about this project, please let me know in the comments!

If you are interested in learning modern calligraphy or lettering, have a look at life i design online! I have a variety of classes here to help you learn, grow and even potentially build a rewarding side hustle!

Have you tried making place cards after being inspired by this post?! I want to see! Please tag me with your creation!

Thanks for visiting!

Nicki